Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Uruguay instead of Afghanistan, you would:

Health

live 24.8 years longer

In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Uruguay, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2022.

be 5.1 times more likely to be obese

In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Uruguay, that number is 27.9% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 15.3 times more money

Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $2,000 as of 2022, while in Uruguay, the GDP per capita is $30,700 as of 2023.

be 42.0% less likely to be unemployed

In Afghanistan, 14.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Uruguay, that number is 8.3% as of 2023.

be 81.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Uruguay, however, that number is 9.9% as of 2022.

pay a 50.0% higher top tax rate

Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Uruguay, the top tax rate is 30.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 96.9% less likely to die during childbirth

In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Uruguay, 19.0 women do as of 2020.

be 2.6 times more likely to be literate

In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Uruguay, it is 98.8% as of 2019.

be 92.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Afghanistan, approximately 104.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Uruguay, on the other hand, 8.3 children do as of 2022.

have 63.2% fewer children

In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Uruguay, there are 12.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 17.2% more likely to have access to electricity

In Afghanistan, approximately 85% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Uruguay, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 5.0 times more likely to have internet access

In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Uruguay, about 90.0% do as of 2021.

be 30.7% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Afghanistan, approximately 76% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 68% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Uruguay, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 40.6% less on healthcare

Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Uruguay, that number is 9.2% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 58.6% more on education

Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Uruguay spends 4.6% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, Dirección General Impositiva.

Uruguay: At a glance

Uruguay is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 175,015 sq km. Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.
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How big is Uruguay compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.

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